The art of cornering in F1

Going quickly in a straight line is all about power. But cornering quickly is a whole different ball game: it requires balance, the right level of downforce and a major dose of talent. In Formula 1, cornering is pretty much an art form.

Seen from outside the car, it all looks easy. However, tackling the corners at any track in a Formula 1 car is something special and requires levels of effort that are inconceivable for anyone who has not trained for it. It will be even tougher this year: with the added aero downforce and the new wider Pirelli tyres, the cars will be glued to the road and the drivers will be able to pile into the more open corners at speeds approaching 300 km/h.

These are sensations that only a driver can explain. Therefore, we asked Carlos Sainz to get behind the wheel of the STR12 and tackle a lap of a foggy Misano circuit, to describe what it feels like physically as he flies through each corner.